Monday, July 9, 2012

Roundhouse Roundup: Political Ads: Demise or Salvation for Public Radio?

A version of this was published in The Santa Fe New Mexican July 8, 2012

Will public radio and television soon cease to be an oasis from the sound and fury of political advertising?

It’s quite possible, though thankfully nothing’s likely to change
before this election. And the local public radio station has assured its
listeners that despite the temptations of filthy lucre from the
politicos, KSFR will not accept political ads even if the practice
becomes legal.

KSFR and KPBS, a San Diego TV station, are the only two public
broadcast stations across the country I could find that have created a
policy against accepting political ads.

“It is a time-honored tradition of public broadcasting to be
independent of controversial, one-sided advertising,” KSFR’s board said in a statement shortly after the court decision. “At KSFR News,
especially, our editorial position is to be as objective as humanly
possible. … The board and staff remain committed to keeping Santa Fe
public radio safe and secure from the manipulations of outside interests
so that we may continue to serve the public interest.”

(Full disclosure upfront: I’ve been a volunteer with KSFR for nearly
20 years. For most of that time, I’ve produced two weekly music shows. (THIS and THIS) I
don’t even know most of the station’s board members and I am not paid
for my work there.)

KSFR’s news director, Bill Dupuy, was on the air Thursday afternoon
during the station’s fundraiser using the station’s stance as a
fundraising talking point. This raised a lot of positive comments from
donors, Dupuy said later, including an email from a listener who wrote,
“I support KSFR’s position on this issue entirely. I have just put my
own money where my mouth is, so to speak, by pledging to KSFR for the
first time.”

“It sets a bad precedent,” Dupuy said. “It could undermine the whole idea of public radio.”

Richard Towne, general manager of KUNM radio in Albuquerque, agreed.
He said Thursday that while his station hasn’t taken an official stand
on the court ruling, “I don’t think anyone in noncommercial
[broadcasting] wants to see this happen,” he said. “It would
fundamentally change our sound.”

Both Towne and Dupuy expressed concern that a lift on the political
ad ban might mean stations would be required to accept ads from
candidates. Proponents of the idea could argue that denying someone’s ad
would be contrary to free speech. Robin Hagen Cane, writing in a blog at Findlaw.com last week, doesn’t think so, however.

“Public broadcasting stations would not be required to take political
ad revenue under the ruling, but stations that are struggling would
probably be tempted,” Cane wrote.

Indeed, getting a share of the political ad pile could mean big cash
bucks for a public station. Cane quoted Laura Martin, an entertainment
and Internet analyst for New York investment bank Needham & Co., who
told theBoston Globe that spending on political ads on local
television stations alone could reach $3.2 billion this year.

That’s a lot of tote bags.

The Globe in April quoted a consultant for the Democratic Party
saying public radio advertising could be great for liberal and moderate
candidates in radio markets dominated by conservative talk shows. It
would be “better than Christmas, better than winning the lottery,’’
consultant Michael Goldman said, because public-radio audiences
generally favor Democrats.

I guess one way for listeners and viewers to fight back against
stations that start running political ads: During the next fund drive,
instead of pledging money, pledge to vote against any candidate who
advertises on your favorite public station.